News Stories

West Awaits Funding Boost After $9.26bn Sale

The Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC) has called on the NSW Government to boost public transport in Sydney’s West following the 51 per cent sale of Sydney Motorway Corporation.

WSROC President Cr Stephen Bali said, “The Government was able to achieve $9.2 billion sale of Sydney Motorway Corporation because full time Western Sydney commuters now pay $2000 per year to use the M4; a fee that will be increased at a minimum of 4 per cent annually for the next 40 years,” he said.

“This is billions of dollars sucked from the pockets of Western Sydney families. The least the Government could do is reinvest this money in better public transport services for Western Sydney.

“WestConnex may offer a potential 40-minute time saving from Parramatta to Sydney Airport, but Western Sydney families and businesses will be paying dearly for this link.

“By contrast, the toll-free Sydney Gateway will offer a free ride for eastern Sydney residents and businesses – who skip the tolled section at the western end of WestConnex.

“Western Sydney is sick of being told they must pay for their own transport infrastructure via tolls, value-capture, or some other means, while the East receives fully funded transport links.

“It is time to fix the balance and reinvest the proceeds from Sydney Motorway Corporation – a business propped up by the tolls of Western Sydney residents – into fair and equitable transport access for Western Sydney families.

WSROC has identified several priority infrastructure investments for Western Sydney including:

Two north south rail links connecting the North West and South West Priority Growth Areas – forming a rail grid with the Metro North West, Western Rail Line and Leppington Line.

Duplication of the Western Rail Line west of Parramatta and improved express services from the Blue Mountains, Penrith and Richmond.